'Smash': NBC announces move to Saturday timeslot

Well at least NBC didn’t cancel it. The network announced today that it will relegate the very low-rated Smash to Saturdays beginning April 6, where it will live out its final days. NBC ordered a total of 17 episodes for its second (and obviously last) season, but hey — change was needed: Tuesday’s episode earned a 1.4 rating in 18-49 this week and a mere 4.78 million in viewers. Last year, it averaged 9.65 million and a 3.4 rating in the demo.

A couple of alternatives will air in Smash’s place Tuesdays. On April 2, NBC will air a one-hour season finale of The New Normal. And on April 9, Ready for Love — a new unscripted show that NBC seems to have a lot of confidence in — will take over the 9-11 p.m. slot after hefty lead-in The Voice.

Ready for Love was originally set to run from 8-10 p.m. before The Celebrity Apprentice. Beginning April 14, Apprentice will now expand to 9-11 p.m.

Other scheduling announcements announced today: Repeats of The Voice will air Sunday, March 31 and Sunday, April 7 from 7-10 p.m., which will lead into original episodes of The Celebrity Apprentice. Meanwhile, Go On moves to Thursdays on April 4 and April 11, which will be the season’s final episode. And

WHITNEY will have a one-hour season finale on Wednesday, March 27.

Read more:

Why NBC shouldn’t yank ‘Smash’ yet

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